Watch Glossary

24 Hour AM/PM Indicator

It is generally accepted that 24 hours of the day is divided into two periods and named as am/pm, meaning “ante/post meridiem” in Latin or before/after midday in English. The designer watches with the AM/PM Indicator clarify for the owner whether it is a day or a night now. This luxury watch feature can be implemented in fine watches that show several time zones. For example, it is convenient to know if the second time zone is in AM or PM state now. The high end watches with GMT and Dual Time Display usually have the AM/PM option.
Technically, it can be designed with AM/PM inscription that is written on the watch’s plate, and a special hand indicates the day status by going back and forth between these two AM/PM marks. In some high end watch models, the AM/PM inscription only can appear on the watch's plate, showing the owner the one of these two AM or PM options. Some luxury watches can be artistically created in a more advanced manner and can be decorated with a sun and a moon on its designer watch plate. These two cosmic objects clearly reflect the AM/PM state of the day. The special watch hand traces between a sun and a moon, showing whether it is a day or a night and makes the picture more visible and original.

Acrylic

Acrylic is a synthetic material, which is made of acrylic resins. The given material is rather spreading in the sphere of creation of fine watches. Moreover, it has a range of wonderful capabilities.
Firstly, acrylic is rather light-weight but very solid. Due to this material, a case of any luxury watch from this material is shockproof. Moreover, acrylic is damp-proof and it resists the influence of different temperatures and atmosphere pressure. In addition, this material has good diaphaneity and it is easy to elaborate it. This material also can have various colors and shapes.
Among the luxury watch trademarks, which use acrylic in producing of their timepieces, you can find such names as Fossil, Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs.
The Michael Kors Glitz Acrylic Watch is delightful subtle timepiece, which has a white acrylic case. A strap of this example of high-end watches is also accomplished of acrylic of the same color as the case. There is a bezel with pave crystals and a white dial, which includes three sub-dials and a date window. This lovely pattern of prestige watches is rather solid, durable and also has attractive look.
Despite of all the values of this material, the acrylic articles of luxury watches are not so expensive. It is rather credible, but its price is lower. Moreover, the design of the acrylic timepieces is no less alluring.

After Market

The exemplars Swiss watches are the reflection of history and traditions of watch making and fashion in general. It is impossible to say that this watch is pre-used, but it is better to say, that you get the magnificent piece of watch art from the hands of previous owner. So, any after market watch is a part of watch making history.
After market is more developed in many countries, because the best luxury watches trademarks create limited editions and not every person has an opportunity to obtain the watch he/she likes. Moreover, the model of fine watches is more valuable, when it has passed the test of time.
The price of any specimen of high-end watches in the after market is usually lower to 20% or 50%. In addition, the condition of elite timepieces is usually great. You can hardly distinguish a sample of pre-owned luxury watches from the new one in some cases. These timepieces are accomplished of solid materials and they are equipped with reliable mechanism. The range of luxury watch examples in the after market is nor worse than in a boutique and you can have the rare or vintage pieces here.
Moreover, you can find a glut of details in after market; you can always obtain straps or cases. So, you should not be afraid of making a purchase in the after market.

Alloy

Alloy is a stuff, which consists of two materials, for example, there are alloys of several metals. Nowadays, the producers of luxury watches use a fantastic range of different materials for creation of timepieces. Moreover, they are constantly searching for new alloys, which will be more solid and reliable for creation of the cases of fine watches.
For example, the Panerai luxury watches trademark invented own alloy, which is called “Panerai Composite”. It is an aluminum oxide, but it is possible to procure it only as a result of a special electrochemical process. The Composite is similar to ceramic, but it has more metal shine. Moreover, this material is light-weight.
The A.Lange & Sohne Homage to F.A. Lange watch also has an unusual case of new “Honey gold” alloy. This extremely hard material (it is more solid than stainless steel!) is made of gold, cooper, manganese and silicon.
Moreover, the watchmakers employ an alloy of aluminum and zinc. The given alloy is one of the best materials for cases of high-end watches.
Brass is one more popular alloy; it consists of cooper, manganese, stannic, nickel, plug and iron. This material usually serves for making of inner and external details of luxury watch.
In addition, nowadays there are a lot of examples of luxury watches, which are accomplished of titanium alloys. Titanium alloys are usually has temperature stability, light-weight and corrosive resistance.

Altimeter

The watchmakers always looks for innovative solutions, because of it they create more new complications for the samples of luxury watches. These complications should serve the turns of modern people. It is not possible to make a plenty of complications for traditional mechanical watch, but there are digital and smart-watch. Any complication should be compact to fit to the case of luxury watch and it also should be essential.
So, the altimeter is a device, which determines the elevation. The first built-in altimeter was represented by the Breva brand of Swiss watches in 2013. The Genie01 model by this trademark has a case, the width of which is 44,7 mm without the crown. The altimeter is situated upwards in a circular motion. This model has two editions of 55 exemplars of fine watches, which have cases of rose and white gold.
Moreover, there is the Oris Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter, which is the first sample of automatic watches equipped with mechanical altimeter. It is very interesting to know that the altimeter is situated in the same line with three hands of a dial. The altimeter of high-end watches samples has slight differences with altimeter, which is installed in the airplane, according to the results of research. So, this complication is rather useful for people who need to know the elevation data.

Analog Watch

Analog watch is a type of timepieces, where the hands denote the hours. The majority of the models of Swiss watches are analog watch. The Westminster tower watch was the first watch, which had a hand, but there was only one.
The term was created to give an opportunity to distinguish the watch with hands from digital watch, which has a digital dial. The dials of analog samples of luxury watches have a round shape in the majority of cases. Moreover, there are Arabic/Roman numerals or stripes, which marker the hours. Sometimes, the diamonds can serve as hour markers.
The hands of analog examples of high-end watches can have different shape and can be accomplished of a variety of materials. Firstly, every hand was a hand-made piece and then the manufacturer invented new methods, for example they started to stamp the hands with the help of a hammer. Brass, bronze, steel, gold and other precious metals can be used for making of the hands of luxury watch. Due to the shape and color of hands the manufacturers of luxury watches can create own unique style for their producing.
For example, the Cartier high-end luxury watches has a glut of watch, which includes blue sward-shaped hands. This trademark won its fame due to this vivid exceptional detail.
Moreover, analog watch never lose its popularity due to its special charm. Analog items of elite watch are the permanent tradition of watch art.

Art Deco

Art Deco is an artistic style, which was famous from 20’s to 40’s of XX century. This style is a combination of Art Nouveau and neo-classicism. This style has several identifies as stern elegance, geometrical shapes, ornaments, and a variety of vivid colors.
The examples of high-end watches of this style are the reflection of subtle fashion of France. These timepieces are always noble and luxurious. There are a glut of materials, which serve as a stuff and adornment for Art Deco luxury watches. The cases of these samples can be accomplished of rose, white or yellow gold, some of them are made of stainless steel and alloys. Fabric, precious metals and steel can serve as stuff for straps. The precious gems often embellish the articles of fine watches in the given charming manner.
The Women's Mauboussin Classique 18k White Gold Diamond Quartz Watch is a dazzling exemplar of Art Deco luxury watches. This timepiece has a case of white gold; a strap of this fantastic accessory is made of the same material. This strap has a deployment clasp. Moreover, sophisticated ornament decorates every detail of the given pattern of prestige watches making this piece of watch art exceptionally magnificent. In addition, all the surface of this Art Deco piece is coated with diamonds, which provide unusual brilliant attractiveness of this specimen of luxury watches.

Automatic Movement

There are different pro and contra about to buy or not to buy pre-owned luxury watches. Many people doubt a lot about pre-owned watches. The first positive side of the pre-owned luxury watches is their price – they cost less than a new one but are the same high-quality and often look like new. More than that top-sites like 300watches high-end luxury watches guaranteed authenticity of a used timepiece.
Most often pre-owned luxury watches are in original condition. These watches have been tenderly worn by previous owners who knew and valued the pleasure of owning a fine watch. More than that, when buying pre-owned watches you may open up an opportunity to afford exotic pieces than you would have otherwise expected. By the looking for pre-owned high-end watches, you may pick whatever you want from all manufacturers you want.
The website 300watches.com offers you pre-owned luxury watches brands of high quality and in very good condition. The 300watches try to be very exact when describing the watches. That's why photos and video is very clear and true if a timepiece has scratches or blemishes. It is impossible to buy there not working watch. The most popular traders or sites of the best luxury watches give their customers 1-year guarantee for their pre-owned luxury watches for men and women. Besides, prices on these sites are always based on the current world market prices. There are no hidden fees or extra charges.

Autoquartz

There are different pros and cons about to buy or not to buy pre-owned luxury watches. Many people doubt a lot about pre-owned watches. The first positive side of the pre-owned luxury watches is their price – they cost less than a new one but are the same high-quality and often look like new. More than that top-sites like 300watches high-end luxury watches guaranteed authenticity of a used timepiece.
Most often pre-owned luxury watches are in original condition. These watches have been tenderly worn by previous owners who knew and valued the pleasure of owning a fine watch. More than that, when buying pre-owned watches you may open up an opportunity to afford exotic pieces than you would have otherwise expected. By the looking for pre-owned high-end watches, you may pick whatever you want from all manufacturers you want.
The website 300watches.com offers you pre-owned luxury watches brands of high quality and in very good condition. The 300watches try to be very exact when describing the watches. That's why photos and video is very clear and true if a timepiece has scratches or blemishes. It is impossible to buy there not working watch. The most popular traders or sites of the best luxury watches give their customers 1-year guarantee for their pre-owned luxury watches for men and women. Besides, prices on these sites are always based on the current world market prices. There are no hidden fees or extra charges.

Balance Spring

A balance spring is a part of the mechanism of any sample of luxury watches. This element is extremely important for the flawless and durable work of a timepiece. A balance spring or hairspring is a thing spiral spring with windings. An internal end of the spring is fixed on a balance wheel shaft and its external end is fixed in an impulse pin. This spring has a shape of the Archimedean spiral.
The producers of high-end watches employ special nickel alloy for making of a balance spring. It is called invar and it appeared on the market in 40’s of 20th century. Nowadays, the invar spirals are an integral part of the mechanisms of any specimen of true fine watches.
Previously, examples of the best luxury watches were equipped with Breguet balance spirals. This spiral is a dazzling invention of great watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet. An accuracy and quality of luxury watch heavily depends on a shape of a spring. The capabilities of a balance spring supply the constancy and equability of oscillations of a balance wheel.
Sometimes this element is called “hairspring” but this name is not exact, because this spring is thinner than human hair.
A balance spring is very small element but the watchmakers suppose that it has extremely significant value for items of high-end watches and they call it “the soul of a watch “.